Pneumatic shock-absorber



C. H. COX.

PNEUMATIC SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.22, 1918.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

CHARLES H. COX, O'F iLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA seats-e.

whom it may confer a;v T t l-znown that CHARLES H. Coma of the United-States, residing-at Les To 0: p

rngeles, in the county of Los .Angeles' and Statezofflalifornla, have lnvented. tertam new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic shockrbsorbers, of which the following is a specification.

.1. his. invention isv intended use inconnection with motor driven vehicles, seats and the like, and may be attached to thebodyportion-of an automobile via the be preferred, for the purpose of minimizing the effects of jolts orjars. caused by road in: equalities or otherwise.

object of the invention is t an absorber? so that it may be regulated to g theinnerpneumatic receptacles to erv or less extent, and to provide sima vehicle or a seat, in such a manner as to cause the metal; spring (whereit is used),

to workinconjunctionwith the absorber.

Another ob ect, which more especially forms thesubject matter of the present invention, is to;.provide pneumatic means to retard. the reboundafter the absorber and spring have been depressed by a jolt or jar, t ereby. greatlyincreasing the comfort of the occupants, and the welfare of the ve- A. further object of-the invention is to utilize by means of conduit 7 the respective air chambers during their neutral periods as compensating or relief chambers, thus" minimizing an increase of the air pressure during the action of the respective chambers resulting in not only softening the actionbutalso in reducing'the strain on the 7 wells. of the chambers.

Gther objects may hereinafter appear.

attaintheseobjects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in whi h l Figure 1 iso fragmentary slde' view of a motorcycle frame and seat thereof, showing" primarily for 0 construct .ple means, of attaching thedevice, either to I specificationofliettei s P tent, f'l aten'ted 20, i

,oonduit 7 andmeans for theirinflation ;-also-..

mcansand methods of connecting theidev-ice to a motorcycle frame andseat thereof; form of the invention: :andin I connection.

Fig. 3 is aside view illustrating a modified with an automobilespringkandehackle." A yoke 13 as shown herein, o'rany other suitis able device, may lateral stability.

arrangement for. the spring, thus obviating :the necessity for a shackle. exert a greater orless carrying capacity, by

Fig: 6isjan end view thereof.

Y Similar: figures refer :to similar partsthroughout the several views. 1

Referring to Figs. 1- to 6- inclusive: The

shock-absorber consists of a metallic casing be employed for additional F.

Fig. 5 is;a side view of theabsorber at-- .tached to avehicle via the horn extension;

the casing of said absorber bein'gbroken awayin, order to show a roller bearing slide 1, which may be-partly cylindrical and partly w 1 I hemispherical iriform, having. flanges 1- and slots 2; 3 are convex ends with flanges 3 designed to connect with flangesl 'of easing 1; 4 are hemisplierically formed, flex: 1

ible, non-stretchable air casings, preferably of a fabricated construction, withan innerv llmngof-rubber 4" to securely ret'amair,

which'with the convex-ends 3, form the twin chambers 6 and .6; Tie aconduit connecting air chambers 6 and 6, thus unionizing said air chambers; 8 is a check valve to admit air. to chambers 6 and6; 9 and 9 are metallic springs, 9 being of the leaf type and 9' being of the spiral type, said springsmay be in.-

terposed between convexedeforming means 10, said means .10 being integral-w1thor;at-'

tached to plunger slide saidslide in Figs..1,2-, 3V and 4 is provided with extenwise.

'100 sions 10 which may-beintegral or other In Figs 1- and2, l( also provides means of connecting the seatwith the absorber, and in Figs ..3 and 10-'. provides means of connecting the-devicev with the'spring and also provides means, of lateral stability.

In Fig. 5 11 are roller bearings'to facili tate the elongation of spring 9; 12 is a segment illustrating means to connect the device to the bod portion of a vehicle; 12 in Figs. 3 and 4. shows the upper portion of a 5} elliptical spring, part of which is connected via yoke 13 to extension 10 for the purpose of lateral support; 14 is a shackle connection between spring 9 and extension 10" 15 is a cross-rod anchorage and 16 in Fig. 2 is a lateral support; 17 in Fig. l is a seat; 17 is a seat bracket; 18 is a segment of a motorcycle frame; 19 is a plunger rod in connection with seat 17 and extension 10"; 20 are bolts to securely fasten the different, parts together.

Referring to the action of the absorber, after due inflation thereof, when the vehicle is in motion and jolts are encountered, the slidable cylindrically-formed plunger slide 10' will respond to the influence of springs 9 or 9, and, in action, will cause convex means 10 to deform the hemispherically formed flexible part 4:, by folding the walls thereof inwardly, thereby increasing its supporting area in accordance with the jolt rendered (similar to the flattening out process of the pneumatic tire under a jolt or added load), and at the same time increasing the air pressure in accordance with the air displaced, relative to the dimensions of the air chambers.

The recoil action immediately follows the jolt, whereupon a folding process and a displacement of air occurs in air chamber 6, the velocity of said recoil being thereby retarded and its violence checked, the principle of absorbing the recoil action being almost identical with the absorption of the direct action; the operations causing a merging of the air displaced throughout air chambers 6 and 6 via the conduit 7.

The mechanism prevents any severe jolts, jars or violent rebounds, since the several elements or devices composing the complete structure adjust themselves automatically and Without jar or undue friction to the changed conditions incident to the use of the device in connection with vehicles and seats.

Such modifications in the structure and application of the device as come within the scope of the appended claims are considered a part of this invention.

What I consider is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is '1. A pneumatic shock absorber comprising a rigid casing adaptable to anchorage; a pair of globular formed inflated and deformable, semi-flexible, unionized air cushions attached to .said casing, one at each end thereof; and a yieldingly supported duplex plunger having convex ends slidably mounted within said casing and in engagement with said cushions.

2. A pneumatic shock absorber comprising a base adaptable to anchorage; semi-flexible inflatable and deformable unionized air cushions; a duplex plunger having convex ends slidably mounted Within said base and opposing said cushions.

3. A pneumatic shock-absorber comprlsing a uide; a semi-flexible air CllSlllOIl adaptab e to inflation attached to each end of said guide; a conduit connecting said cushions for the free passage of air from cushion to cushion; and a slidably mounted duplex-plunger having a slot therein, roller bearings in connection therewith, and convex ends opposing said air cushions, said plunger being positioned within said guide and arranged for connection with a spring.

4. A pneumatic shock absorber for vehicles; comprising a hemispherical and cylindrically formed base; a pair of inflatable and deformable unionized air cushions attached thereto, one at each end of said base:

and convex plungers suitably positioned within said base to deform said cushions separately. v

5. A pneumatic shock absorber consisting of a base; a pair of semi-flexible inflated and deformable unionized air cushions attached to said base, one at each end thereof; and a duplex plunger having convex endsslidably mounted Within said base and opposing said cushions.

6. A pneumatic shock absorber for vehicles; consisting of a guide; unionized globular formed air chambers adaptable to inflation and deformation in connection with said guide; and convex plungers suitably positioned to deform each of said chambers se arately.

g. A pneumatic shock absorber for vehicles; comprising a casing; semi-flexible unionized air chambers adaptable to inflation and depression attached thereto; and a spiral spring having convex plungers mounted at each end thereof, slidably positioned within said casing.

8. A pneumatic shock absorber consisting of a rigid casing, a pair of semi-flexible air cushions within said casing, a conduit connecting said cushionsffor the free passage of air from one of said cushions to the other, and a duplex plunger slidably positioned between said cushions and comprising a yielding base having convex ends in engagement with said cushions.

CHARLES H. COX. lVitnesses A. W. HAEKMAN, H. D. CLARK. 

